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Rental Market Trends in San Marcos, CA

What is the average rent in San Marcos, CA?

$2,336/month

Average Rent

700 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.1%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of June 2025, the average rent in San Marcos, CA is $2,336 per month. This is 43% higher than the national average rent price of $1,628/month, making San Marcos one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in San Marcos, you can expect to pay about $2,464 per month for a studio, $2,336 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,768 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,620 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,464/month
572 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,336/month
700 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,768/month
965 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,620/month
1,211 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,731/month
1,163 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,484/month
1,698 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$6,134/month
2,799 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,273/month
1,009 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,299/month
1,160 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,980/month
1,606 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in San Marcos, CA?

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.1%, which averages out to $1 less per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated June 2025
Legend
2024 2025
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Marcos, CA
Last Updated June 2025
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in San Marcos, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
0% Below $700/month
0% $700 - $1,000/month
8% $1,001 - $1,500/month
21% $1,501 - $2,000/month
72% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Marcos?

Based on current rent prices, Lancer Park is the most affordable neighborhood in San Marcos.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Lancer Park
$2,660/month
651 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Marcos?

Based on current rent prices, Lancer Park is the most expensive neighborhood in San Marcos.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Lancer Park
$2,660/month
651 Sq Ft

Which San Marcos neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhood in San Marcos with the most apartments available is Lancer Park .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Lancer Park
$2,660/month
651 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Marcos, CA?

Because the average rent in San Marcos is $2,336, you’ll want to make about $7,786 per month or $93,432 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

City

San Marcos, CA

466 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does San Marcos, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare San Marcos, CA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for San Marcos, CA

Apartment Averages

Lancer Park

San Marcos, CA

Lancer Park

San Marcos, CA

Studio
-
-
One Bedroom
-
-
Two Bedroom
-
-
Three Bedroom
-
-
Search
Search

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Vista Average Rent
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  • Cardiff By The Sea Average Rent

Apartment communities in San Marcos we think you'll love

Prominence Apartments

Prominence Apartments

601 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd,
San Marcos, CA 92078

1-2 Beds | $2,349 - $3,276

Virano Apartments

Virano Apartments

1635 Creek St,
San Marcos, CA 92078

2 Beds | Call for Rent

Palomar Station

Palomar Station

1257 Armorlite Dr,
San Marcos, CA 92069

Studio - 3 Beds | $2,686 - $4,344

WINDSOR MANOR I

WINDSOR MANOR I

250 Knoll Rd,
San Marcos, CA 92069

1-2 Beds | $1,925 - $2,375

Property Management Companies in San Marcos, CA

R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
  • 57

    Communities

  • 4,537

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

5 Communities in San Marcos
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,265

    Communities

  • 907,877

    Units

  • 844

    Cities

4 Communities in San Marcos
AMC
AMC
  • 646

    Communities

  • 126,201

    Units

  • 258

    Cities

3 Communities in San Marcos
Sunrise Management
Sunrise Management
  • 65

    Communities

  • 7,422

    Units

  • 31

    Cities

2 Communities in San Marcos
Woodspear Properties
Woodspear Properties
  • 23

    Communities

  • 2,901

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

2 Communities in San Marcos
AvalonBay
AvalonBay
  • 232

    Communities

  • 78,946

    Units

  • 151

    Cities

1 Community in San Marcos
North Coast
North Coast
  • 18

    Communities

  • 3,222

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

1 Community in San Marcos
CTM Apartment Services
CTM Apartment Services
  • 22

    Communities

  • 2,277

    Units

  • 15

    Cities

1 Community in San Marcos

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United States California San Marcos Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity